Sunday School Lesson

July 14

Lesson 7 (KJV)

Love One Another

 

Devotional Reading: Genesis 2:18–24

Background Scripture: Matthew 5:21–32

 

Matthew 5:21–32

21. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

 

22. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 

23. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

 

24. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

 

25. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

 

26. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

 

27. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

 

28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

 

29. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 

30. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 

31. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

 

32. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Key Verses

If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.—Matthew 5:23, 24

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. Recall the two they said, but Icontrasts of Jesus regarding murder and adultery.

 

2. Explain the relationship between sinful thoughts and sinful actions.

 

3. Develop a strategy by which to monitor his or her thought life better.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Corinthians	Ko-rin-thee-unz (th as in thin).
Deuteronomy	Due-ter-ahn-uh-me.
Ephesians	Ee-fee-zhunz.
Judaism	Joo-duh-izz-um or Joo-day-izz-um.
Pharisees	Fair-ih-seez.
Raca	Ray-kuh or Ray-kah.
sepulchres	sep-ul-kurs.

Introduction

1. A Crime of Passion

Is extreme anger a valid defense for murder? Called the “provocation defense,” this line of thinking has two associated components. First, there is a widely held assumption that when people are in a rage, such persons are less responsible for their actions. The anger blinds them from rational response and unleashes violent behavior. Second, the provocation defense maintains that the rage that resulted in murder was provoked by the one murdered. This places some (or all) of the blame on the victim, implying the person deserved to die. A classic situation for this might be the husband who catches his spouse in an adulterous situation and his rage results in the death of the wife and her lover. Sometimes called a “crime of passion,” such a person may elicit sympathy from the community despite the death of two people.

Courts generally consider provoked rage only a partial defense for murder in terms of lack of premeditation. The charge in such a case may therefore be limited to voluntary manslaughter. Attempts have been made to equate blind rage with temporary insanity. But this line of defense rarely results in exoneration.

1. Lesson Context

Matthew likely wrote his Gospel account after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70. This outcome marked the end of the Judaism’s being focused on the sacrificial system as practiced by the priesthood in the temple in Jerusalem. What survived the temple’s destruction was a Judaism focused on the law and its interpreters, a shift that began in the Babylonian exile.

Any Jewish reader of Matthew’s Gospel would have been particularly interested in what Jesus had to say about the law. Jesus had no intention of demolishing the Law of Moses, which included prohibitions against murder and adultery. Jesus’ approach to the law was one of great respect; but it also held that simply following the law in a public manner was futile because of hypocritical hearts.

Jesus’ teaching was not the simple righteousness of the Jewish scribes and Pharisees of His day (Matthew 5:20), which would prohibit the physical acts of murder and adultery but say nothing to the heart of the matter. The scribes and Pharisees were educated men, held in esteem by common folks for their knowledge and exemplary public lives (23:5–7). However, Jesus knew the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees (see John 2:24) and repeatedly called them hypocrites (Matthew 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 29, etc.), ones who purposefully hid their sinfulness. He likened them to “whited sepulchres,” looking clean on the outside but holding the uncleanness of dead bodies on the inside (23:27).

There is a basic three-part pattern to the following sayings of Jesus. First, He gives a statement of a commandment from the Law of Moses, framed as something taught from ancient times. Second, He presents an expansion of this law as given by later teachers and interpreters. Third, Jesus announces a more rigorous version of this teaching, looking to root out the cause of the sin in the heart, not just the action itself.

1. Murder

(Matthew 5:21–26)

1. Judgment Follows (v. 21)
2. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.

 

Jesus begins with the sixth commandment from the Ten Commandments, the prohibition against killing (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17). The Greek word used by Matthew refers primarily and specifically to murder (also Matthew 19:18; 23:31, 35), not a more general sense of killing (as in Luke 15:23, 27, 30). This commandment was spoken to them of old time and passed down by them as well. Thus it does not originate with the scribes or Pharisees but has its roots in the law God gave to Israel through Moses (Exodus 19).

Jesus does not quote just the sixth commandment itself. He adds part two—the consequence for breaking the law. A killer is in danger of the judgment. This means going before a judge in a local court and being executed for the killing crime (Exodus 21:12).

1. Anger Fuels (v. 22)
2. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 

Jesus has no quarrel with the sixth commandment or its enforcement. He intensifies it, however, by elevating murder’s frequent cause, anger, to a status where the angry person is also in danger of the judgment like a killer (see Ephesians 4:26; James 1:19, 20; 1 John 3:15).

Jesus is not presenting three categories of angry persons, just three ways to identify such people. The first is the one who rages against fellow disciple without a cause. Does this mean that anger that has a cause is justified? In a limited way, perhaps. But we should hear what Jesus says in the next two descriptions, because these three are a package.

The second is a person who utters Raca against another, while the third labels another as a fool. Racais the ultimate angry insult in Jesus’ Jewish world, very much like the derogatory “fool” of Psalms 14:1; 53:1; 107:17; etc. There is not a tight distinction between the words. Both are nasty things to call another person, but neither carries jail time or even a fine.

The punishments here do not seem to fit the crimes. Being angry in itself is not reason to go before a judge; neither is name-calling. Yet the person who calls another Raca is in danger of judgment from the council, another way to speak of going before a judge and being sentenced. The results of these minor infractions should thus be taken together. Not only is the angry person in danger of judgment and standing before the council, ultimately the angry are in danger of hell fire, the final judgment of God.

 

What Do You Think? What techniques can Christians use to squelch anger before it leads to judgment?   Digging Deeper Considering Jesus’ anger of Mark 11:15–17, where should we draw the line between allowable anger and sinful anger? Is that line the same for everyone, or does its position differ based on personality? Why?

The Terrible Power of Anger

In this decade, America has exploded with anger. The seemingly sudden, overwhelming change in public acceptance of the self-styled “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer” agenda aroused the passions of many. A series of shootings by police and of police brought riots and demonstrations to many American cities. Polarizing presidents were elected, making many Americans of varying political persuasions angry and fearful. Advocates of the “old South” reacted strongly when a movement gained momentum to remove Confederate flags and statues. In some cases, rallies over the issue turned violent.

When passionately held values and opinions are called into question, Christians often feel moved to anger, but Jesus warns us of the dangers of allowing anger to gain control in our hearts. Murder and judgment can be the result. In fact, in Jesus’ words, anger and murder are equivalent in terms of the spirit involved. How do you avoid God’s judgment on your anger?

—C. R. B.

1. Reconciliation Prevents (vv. 23–26)

23, 24. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

 

Jesus holds His disciples to a much higher standard than the scribes and Pharisees hold for the people. He calls for not only our actions to be righteous but also our motivations to be governed by love (compare 1 Corinthians 13:3, 5). Jesus’ first key to dealing with anger is that we must be reconciled to those with whom we have conflicts. He illustrates this in a striking situational way. A person is at the altar, ready to offer a gift, or offering. This is an act of worship, a time between the person and God. When the worshipper’s mind remembers an unresolved conflict with a brother or sister, the gift should be left behind and the worship postponed until reconciliation is accomplished. Unreconciled relationships damage not only human interactions but also relationship with God. Jesus advises that we put our anger aside and take the initiative in restoring an broken relationship in order to be able to approach God.

We do not diminish the force and difficulty of Jesus’ teaching by recognizing that He is using hyperbole in these verses (exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis; examples include Matthew 18:6, 8, 9; Romans 14:21; 1 Corinthians 8:13; etc.). An analogy in churches today might be interrupting observance of the Lord’s Supper or postponing the offering in order to be reconciled to other believers. As God acts in love to reconcile us to himself (John 3:16, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; Hebrews 2:17), so we are to act in love to be reconciled with others.

 

What Do You Think? In what ways can Christians improve efforts in seeking reconciliation?   Digging Deeper Which elements of the world’s view of reconciliation are useful to adopt, if any? Which should be rejected? Why?

25, 26. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

 

When an adversary has been created, such a person may seek legal actions against you. This example likely involves an unpaid debt of some kind and the simmering anger that such a situation can create. Jesus’ context implies what we would call “debtor’s prison,” incarceration ordered by a judge until a debt is paid. This is not a matter of breaking a law, but a legal remedy employed in Jesus’ world to force repayment of a loan.

The debtor remain jailed until there is payment by friends or family. A farthing is an old English coin equal to a fourth of a penny—a tiny amount of money. This example is appropriate given that the Roman coin indicated is also the least valuable unit of currency available. Such a judgment results in great hardship for the debtor’s family that is called on to satisfy the debt. With this example, Jesus demonstrates that maintaining an angry relationship is dangerous and self-defeating. We are wise to lay anger aside and be reconciled.

 

What Do You Think? What are some specific ways to deal redemptively with an adversary?   Digging Deeper How will your response differ, if at all, regarding civil vs. criminal situations and cases?

1. Adultery

(Matthew 5:27–30)

1. Condemnation Follows (v. 27)
2. 27. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Jesus’ second example is the seventh commandment, the prohibition against adultery (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18). Adultery is defined specifically as being when a married person has sexual relations with someone other than his or her spouse. Jewish tradition both upholds this prohibition and includes examples of the damage adultery causes (see 2 Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51).

1. Lust Fuels (v. 28)
2. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

 

Jesus assumes the antiquity and validity of this commandment and then expands it to serve for a greater variety of sexual sins (compare 2 Peter 2:14). His concern is to go behind the sin to the underlying cause, human lust.

Adultery does not begin with physical contact. It originates in the heart, the seat of imagination and will. The one who imagines a sexual encounter with a non-spouse has already begun to sin. Adultery is the fulfillment of lustful desire (Proverbs 6:25–29). The need to control how one looks at others exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus wants us to give God more than obedient actions. True righteousness begins with giving God our hearts and abandoning an unrighteous, lustful thought life (1 Corinthians 13:5).

1. Resistance Prevents (vv. 29, 30)

29, 30. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 

Jesus again uses hyperbole to drive His point home (see commentary on Matthew 5:23, 24, above). His examples here are two body parts typically involved in sexual sin. Rather than risk hell because of sexual sin, it is better to enter Heaven with one missing eye and one missing hand (Mark 9:42–47), isn’t it?

The value of these body parts is extreme. Blindness is understood in Jesus’ day to be a punishment for sin, a curse from God (see John 9:2, 3). Even partial blindness is debilitating. The disfigurement of a missing eye is socially unacceptable. For its part, the right hand is the social hand, used for greetings and eating from a common dish at mealtime. The left hand is the unclean hand, used for bathroom duties. Missing a right hand is as socially debilitating as an empty eye socket.

There is no command for eye-gouging or hand-chopping. Jesus’ point is that we should do all we can to eliminate from our lives those things that lead to sexual sin. Because adultery begins in the heart, we should keep away from those things that result in lustful, impure thoughts. Extreme, aggressive measures are sometimes required to keep us from such temptations. Refusing to engage not only in adultery but also lust demonstrates love for a spouse and faithfulness to right relationships with others (Ephesians 5:21–33).

 

What Do You Think? What are some common things Christians need to cut from their lives to keep sin at bay?   Digging Deeper Which of those common things—things not necessarily sinful in and of themselves—do you see as the greatest danger?

III. Divorce

(Matthew 5:31, 32)

1. Document Finalizes (v. 31)
2. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.

 

Jesus’ third example moves beyond the Ten Commandments to a contentious issue in His day: divorce. He cites Deuteronomy 24:1–4, which intends to limit the harm of a divorce that has already happened. Even though this is not one of the Ten Commandments, it is seen as a word from Moses and therefore binding on the Jewish people.

Deuteronomy does not justify divorce but regulates it to prevent the worst abuses at the hands of divorcing husbands. (Wives could not divorce their husbands.) Moses’ command to give a written bill of divorcement provides the ex-wife a modicum of protection against divorces, given the overall thrust of Deuteronomy 24:1–4 (compare also Matthew 19:8, 9).

Since she can prove she is legally divorced, then perhaps she can remarry for her own well-being. The divorce procedure gives her some protection. For a divorced woman in Jesus’ day, remarriage is the most financially stable option. Employment opportunities are few for women, and there are no government programs to offer even limited assistance. In the ancient world, a woman needs the protection by and provision from a man. This begins in her father’s house and continues with her husband.

1. Sin Energizes (v. 32)
2. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

 

Jesus offers no absolute prohibition against divorce at this point (compare Matthew 19:8, 9; Luke 16:18). Instead, He returns to a root cause of divorce: sexual sin. If a wife has committed fornication, which encompasses many sexual sins and includes adultery, the husband has just cause to divorce her. This is the only justified cause for divorce that Jesus ever teaches in the Gospels. (The apostle Paul will later set forth another situation that allows for a Christian to divorce; see 1 Corinthians 7:10–15.)

The vagueness of the phrase “he hath found some uncleanness in her” that allows divorce in Deuteronomy 24:1 is ripe for abuse. A husband might interpret “some uncleanness” any way he wishes and therefore put away his wife and remarry the other woman without technically violating the seventh commandment. Misuse of Deuteronomy 24:1–4 allows the husband to maintain his social standing and the appearance of righteousness while still wronging his wife.

But outward appearances aside, the husband’s motives are not thereby justified. Simple lust for another woman, fulfilled through the divorce process to allow a second marriage, is no better justified than adultery itself.

Furthermore, a husband’s selfish justification of his problematic motives and his callous behavior creates ongoing problems for his ex-wife. If she is unable to find another husband, she may see her only choices to be either a life of abject poverty or a life of prostitution. Jesus’ purpose is not to condemn the woman who remarries, but the man who causes her dilemma in the first place.

Using an overly broad interpretation of Deuteronomy 24:1–4 as a way to avoid being seen as having violated the seventh commandment is deeply flawed. It ignores God’s intentions for marriage (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6).

 

What Do You Think? How should church leaders handle a situation of previously divorced people desiring to be married, but their divorces do not meet Jesus’ criterion in today’s text?   Digging Deeper How, if at all, is your conclusion modified by considering Jeremiah 3:1; Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:3–9; and 1 Corinthians 7:10–15?

Was My Counsel Wrong?

As a young Bible college graduate, I was called to my first ministry. When a young woman in the congregation asked my opinion about a possible divorce from her husband, I didn’t hesitate to offer the requested opinion in no uncertain terms. I was sure I knew the answer.

Many times over the years, I have regretted my self-righteous confidence in giving the answer that I did. Time and experience have taught me that I was reading Jesus’ words but not hearing the spirit that prompted them.

I’ve come to see that I was more like a Pharisee at that point in life‌—‌mouthing what my religious culture accepted‌—‌than I care to admit. I’ve reconsidered, and I believe I’ve come to a fuller understanding of Jesus’ teaching. What conviction might Jesus be calling you to reconsider?

—C. R. B.

Conclusion

1. Transforming Inner Hypocrisy

Anger and murder, lust and adultery: these are not feel-good issues. But they resonate in many lives. Our hearts can harbor unrighteous thoughts, attitudes, and motivations. Jesus calls for genuine righteousness, a life-changing orientation that does not excuse anger or lust, even if they don’t result in murder or adultery. To Jesus, such matters of the heart cannot be ignored.

Responding to Jesus’ call to righteousness is not possible with simple rule-keeping; it requires the love of God and love for one another (Matthew 22:34–40; Mark 12:28–34; Luke 10:25–28; 1 John 4:7–12). Jesus’ approach cuts through all veneers of right behavior that mask deeply ungodly attitudes and motivations. Jesus’ approach also makes us aware of how unrighteous we actually are, how much we need God’s grace.

The church today must maintain this insight as taught by Jesus. Keeping rules can never be seen as a pathway to being saved, for salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned (Ephesians 2:8). Yet despising or ignoring God’s commands is not the way of the Christian either. The New Testament speaks with one voice that says we should strive to live godly lives, to walk in God’s light rather than the darkness of sin. This call demonstrates God’s concern that His people live lives of righteousness. Our good deeds, however, have a hollow ring if they come from dark hearts. Only when our hearts are fully devoted to our Lord will our acts of mercy and justice be pleasing to God, the acceptable service of a transformed life (Romans 12:1, 2).

1. Prayer

Lord, cleanse our hearts from evil thoughts and attitudes. Keep us from the sin that entices us. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

Righteous living demands more than keeping laws.

 

KID’S CORNER

Translations Offer Interpretations

July 14, 2019

Matthew 5:21-32

 

Matthew 5: 21-32

(Matthew 5: 21) “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used an example to illustrate what He meant in Matthew 5:20 — “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17, God commanded, “You shall not murder.” The punishment for murder was execution. In addition, the murderer will face the judgment of God. In Deuteronomy 8:19, God warned. “If you do forget the LORD your God and follow other gods to serve and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the LORD is destroying before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.” God forbid murder, but God permitted capital punishment and killing in a just war, for in the Old Testament He commanded both at times. The religious leaders that eventually plotted Jesus’ murder and used the Romans to crucify Him had a form of outward righteousness, but they were inwardly evil. Though they may have escaped judgment in this life, they were liable to face the judgment of God. Our righteousness as Christians must exceed their form of righteousness, and the Holy Spirit within Christians enables them to obey God with all the glory going to Jesus.

(Matthew 5:22) “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

God is not only concerned about our outward actions. God looks upon a person’s heart and considers their intentions, motivations, thoughts, and words that show a lack of love for God and others. Anger or jealousy can lead to insulting someone and even murder. Anger and jealousy eventually led the religious leaders to plot Jesus’ murder. Insulting someone can even lead to a person being judged in a court of law. Calling someone a fool can harm them emotionally and mentally and can even lead others to mistreat them too. Feelings of anger, envy, unforgiveness, and resentment can make a person miserable on the inside. Whether or not they express their harmful feelings in actions or words, their demeanor can make those around them unhappy. Though we might not act upon our sinful thoughts, if they are not repented of, Jesus warned that all these thoughts can result in deserving hell. Jesus warned His followers to give careful attention to their thought-life and their words as well as their actions. Unjustified anger, insulting words, bullying, and name-calling are not expressions of love for others.

(Matthew 5:23) “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

This verse refers to a person who is justified or right in having something against you because you have done something wrong against them. Perhaps you have committed one of the sins described in Matthew 5:22. Perhaps you have stolen from someone in violation of the civil and moral law of God. If so, giving a gift at the altar can be no substitute for trying to make things right as soon as possible with the person that you have sinned against. This verse does not teach that before you offer your gift at the altar you must make things right with a person who is or has been treating you with contempt like someone described in verse 22—for this reconciliation may be impossible to achieve and your offerings are materially important for the work of God on earth and spiritually important to you.

(Matthew 5:24) leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

You can go to someone that you have offended and offer an apology and try to make things right, but this does not mean that they will accept your efforts to make amends or forgive you. Having made the effort at reconciliation with them, you can go back to the altar and give your gift. We should not think that we can substitute going to church services or giving offerings at church for loving our neighbor and trying to do what is loving and right to all people, especially those we have sinned against.

(Matthew 5:25) “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

This verse continues to emphasize that you have harmed someone. Possibly, you may have done something against someone that could land you in court or in prison. It is better to try to solve problems before they get to the point of going to court; this is especially so for a follower of Jesus Christ who wants to love God and others and show forth Christian love. There can be civil consequences for breaking civil laws that will be enforced whether a person offers gifts to God or not. A gift to God will not bribe God to act unjustly or keep you from suffering a just punishment as a consequence of your sins.

(Matthew 5:26) “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

In Jesus’ day, and at other times in history, a debtor could be placed in prison until he paid his debts (see Jesus’ parable in Matthew 18:23-35). In some cases, this meant that his family would need to work off his debt to get him released from prison. According to laws in the Old Testament, a thief would be ordered to make restitution, and as punishment he would be required to pay back more than he stole (see Exodus 22:1-4). Jesus indicated that the civil law would be enforced against a lawbreaker, and his religious performance would not set aside the enforcement of a civil penalty. The practice of religious rituals will not protect the sinner.

(Matthew 5:27) “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’;

From the example of the scribes and Pharisees, we know that many in Jesus’ day were more concerned with keeping their traditions and ceremonies to gain favor with God than in keeping the moral law of God. The Ten Commandments teach “You shall not commit adultery,” one of the moral laws of God. A case in point was their plot to murder Jesus during Passover but their refusal to enter Pilate’s court because that would make them ritually unclean during Passover celebration. Jesus’ teaching shows that breaking the moral law of God is sin, and breaking the moral law is a matter of our heart and not just our outward actions.

(Matthew 5:28) but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

People naturally feel an attraction toward some people, which is not a sin. However, because of this natural attraction, a person can be tempted by their emotional and physical nature (the flesh) to speculate about and begin to imagine over a period of time what they might like to do with that person that would be sinful for both of them, if acted upon. The name for this type of imagining and willful speculation the Bible calls “lust,” which we must turn our minds from doing as quickly as possible, because if we do not a natural attraction can soon become an act of sin, adultery, in a person’s heart. Lust can also lead to sinful outward behavior often described in the Book of Proverbs, which, as the Proverbs describe, can lead to death.

(Matthew 5:29) “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Jesus sometimes used hyperbole, the making of exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally, to get people’s attention to make an important point. Jesus did not intend for a person to literally remove an eye or a hand to keep from committing a sin. We have just learned from Jesus that we can sin in our minds. However, if something we possess, or would like to possess, is influencing us to sin in our minds and hearts, then we need to get rid of that influence so it will no longer have power over us. The sin in the heart can lead to committing sin with our whole body, and to an actual physical slavery to sin (or addiction) that we do not have the power to break by ourselves.  It may even mean we need to move far away from someone or something while we battle the temptations that come into our minds. With the help of Jesus, by going to Jesus for help, we can receive the power to overcome our sins and temptations that can lead us into hell.

(Matthew 5:30) “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

The eye gives us the ability to see into the world. Through the gate of the eye, we can begin to commit all types of sin in our hearts and minds. If that begins to happen, we need to shut our eyes and our minds to those parts of the world that are leading us into sin. Mental sins can lead us into physical sins. For example, a person might covet something or someone that is forbidden, and after speculating more about possessing it or them, they may steal the thing or person they want (steal a person from their husband or wife, for example). It is better to stop mental sins before the person’s mind leads them into physical sins. It is better to repent and bow morally and spiritually before Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and ask Him for help to stop mental and physical sins than go into hell as a slave of sin and Satan.

(Matthew 5:31) “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;

In Mark 10:4, the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” In Matthew 19:8, Jesus explained why Moses gave this command: “It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so” (See also, Mark 10:5). Hard-heartedness and other sins can lead to divorce. In Mark 10:6-9, Jesus gave God’s reason from the creation of men and women why divorce should not be permitted — “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

(Matthew 5:32) but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

The scribes and Pharisees taught that a man could divorce his wife for any reason if he was displeased with her in any way. Jesus taught that easy divorce was wrong, and the only justifiable reason for a man to divorce his wife was unchastity, a sin which if his wife repented could be forgiven so the marriage could be saved by a man who was not hard-hearted (and vice versa). The act of a man against a chaste wife does not cause her to commit adultery; rather, in Jesus’ day a divorced woman was sometimes shunned and unable to find work, so she would sometimes commit adultery to keep from starving to death. Divorce could put a woman in this horrible situation with horrible choices to make. If a man and woman plotted a divorce so the man could marry the divorced woman (and vice versa), this might be acceptable according to tradition, but Jesus called this adultery. Obviously, the church has struggled with the question of divorce and remarriage for many years. Historically, some churches have agreed that if a man or woman committed adultery against their wife or husband and a divorce resulted, then the divorce was biblical, and the church would record that the person sinned against was free to remarry without committing adultery. Others have added the sin of abandonment, which would allow the person abandoned to remarry without committing adultery. The Bible does not teach that adultery or divorce are unforgivable sins; rather, marriage and the family are such important institutions ordained by God (also representing the relationship that Christians have with Jesus Christ and within the Church) that adultery and divorce are serious problems and sins.

 

Translations Offer Interpretations

July 14, 2019

Matthew 5:21-32

“But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:22).

By comparing different Bible translations, we can better understand Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Regarding “angry,” the King James Version reads, “angry with his brother without a cause.” Because of bad behavior, the KJV rightly recognizes the Biblical truth that God’s children can sometimes become angry with one another “with cause.” In Ephesians 4:26, Paul recognized what some call “justifiable anger” or “anger with cause” and wrote, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” We will suffer physically, mentally, and spiritually if we feed the fires of anger or resentment after dark; furthermore, our anger may motivate us to act unjustly and become liable to judgment. In Matthew 5:22, the KJV retains the Greek word “Raca,” which the New Revised Standard Version translates as “insult.” Not knowing the exact meaning of “Raca,” some have suggested that in Jesus’ day it was a disgusting guttural sound made against someone to their face to express contempt for them. The New American Standard Bible translates “Raca” to mean, “You good-for- nothing,” an obvious insult! People could face serious charges in court for saying “Raca” to ridicule someone. Every translation I saw agrees that believers should never say “You fool” to someone no matter how foolishly they believe or behave. The Proverbs include many sayings about “fools;” for example, consider Proverbs 29:11, “A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back.”

 

Thinking Further

Translations Offer Interpretations

July 14, 2019

Matthew 5:21-32

Name __________________________

1. How might our culture (or our churches) be different if more people practiced Jesus’ teachings to His followers in Matthew 5:21-32?

 

2. What can anger lead to? Look closely at Matthew 5:22.

 

3. Are we supposed to try to make peace with everyone who unjustly holds something against us before we go to worship God? What did Jesus mean by Matthew 5:23-24?

 

4. How would you help someone who read Matthew 5:29-30, and then thought that Jesus meant for habitual sinners to mutilate or dismember themselves?

 

5. How can Mark 10:4 and Mark 10:11-12 help you understand Matthew 5:31-32?

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

1. How might our culture (or our churches) be different if more people practiced Jesus’ teachings to His followers in Matthew 5:21-32? People would love one another from their hearts, and many countries and their leaders would have friendly relationships. The kingdoms of this world would become more like the kingdom of God, where people truly do the will of God because they love God and others. There would be far less sin.
2. What can anger lead to? Look closely at Matthew 5:22. Anger can destroy a person inside if they do not follow the Bible’s teachings. Anger can lead to increasingly worse behavior, and increasingly worse consequences that can make a difference in this life and throughout eternity.
3. Are we supposed to try to make peace with everyone who unjustly holds something against us before we go to worship God? What did Jesus mean by Matthew 5:23-24? No, because that may be impossible. But, if someone legitimately has something against us, we need to make the effort to make things right with them if possible. In Romans 12:18, Paul gave a good explanation for this verse, “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” We are not supposed to think that following a religious ritual or weekly worship can take the place of living the way God wants us to with others.
4. How would you help someone who read Matthew 5:29-30, and then thought that Jesus meant for habitual sinners to mutilate or dismember themselves? Try to tell them that Jesus was not being literal but using hyperbole. Jesus’ teaching reveals how people can still sin in their minds even when they do not have the ability or opportunity to commit sin physically. A person without a hand or an eye can still sin in their mind. Jesus was making this strong and startling statement to convince people about the importance of turning from sin and not doing things that can tempt people to sin. It is better to stop sinning and tempting yourself to sin than spend eternity regretting your separation from our Holy, Loving God and Savior.
5. How can Mark 10:4 and Mark 10:11-12 help you understand Matthew 5:31-32? God gave this command through Moses because people tend to be hard-hearted instead of loving. When a man or woman divorces their wife or husband, they are committing adultery against their wife or husband, especially if they are doing so to marry someone else. In Jesus’ day, a divorced woman could easily starve to death and might not overcome the temptation to become adulterous to stay alive physically.

Word Search

Translations Offer Interpretations

July 14, 2019

Matthew 5:21-32

Name __________________________

E M H W Y R F M G N F Y Q I C

H Q C O A N W Z B P U T K Y N

N S B T G Q N O G K E I L F W

F Y L J O M I E M U X T U A P

B A S R P L N W P J E S G D L

T N E M G D U J T A Y A T U R

I S W B F J B N M I D H K L E

T V J C M U R D E R Z C I T S

E C R O V I D G V I J N Y E U

S U S E J F O B F Y E U T R C

O X J W Z I E C R L A L E Y C

D U E K F R D G B G U R T S A

H T V O S E N A M S I L L E H

J G O U D A I W N L H F K W M

D L X K N L Z I K V M E T Y G

 

Murder

Liable

Judgment

Angry

Insult

Fool

Fire

Hell

Gift

Altar

Accuser

Penny

Adultery

Divorce

Unchastity

 

True and False Test

Translations Offer Interpretations

July 14, 2019

Matthew 5:21-32

Name __________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

1. Jesus said it was okay to practice committing a sin in your mind, if you do not actually do it with your body. True or False
2. People who say and do very harmful things to others become liable to the fire of hell. True or False
3. If you give a big enough offering to your church or favorite charity, it does not matter what harm you do to others. True or False
4. We should try to reconcile with those we have harmed. True or False
5. To get the best deal, we should always prefer going to court or asking a judge to solve our problems with someone. True or False
6. Because God loves them, Christians can commit fraud and steal from someone and never go to court or to prison. True or False
7. We should always use pennies to pay our fines. True or False
8. It is possible to commit adultery in your heart. True or False
9. True Christians usually have only one eye and one hand. True or False
10. Jesus expressed concerns about our outward way of living and our inward way of living using our hearts and minds. True or False

True and False Test Answer

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. False

10.True

 

Prayer

Lord, cleanse our hearts from evil thoughts and attitudes. Keep us from the sin that entices us. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.